Doubts about the broken relationship between the two have been spreading since last year, and continue to flare up, sparking controversy.
IU and Lee Hyori's close relationship began when IU participated in the reality show "Hyori's Bed and Breakfast" in 2017. At that time, the star of the movie "Moonlight Lover" came to work part-time at Lee Hyori's motel and quickly became close to his senior couple.
Lee Hyori gave her juniors many sincere advice, she called IU "a gift from the gods". In contrast, IU also said that she received comfort and motivation from Lee Hyori's concern. For IU, this meeting helped her learn many things and mature.
After the show, Lee Hyori and her husband appeared at IU's concert as guests in 2019, making the audience believe that their close relationship will last.
But since then, no further official exchange activities between the two have been made public. This caused an explosion of rumors of discord.
Another detail that has caused controversy among the audience is that the two artists are no longer following each other on Instagram. But fans explained that Lee Hyori had deleted his old account and reopened it, leading to the loss of his former followers.
In addition, IU's absence from last year's "Lee Hyori's Red Carpet" program has further complicated the rumor of a rift.
Some netizens said that since filming "Hyori's Bed and Breakfast", IU has sometimes been uncomfortable with her senior's straightforward personality, and Hyori also has a bit of a bias towards guest YoonA (SNSD).
However, fans have refuted that the rumors of discord between IU and Lee Hyori are just embroidery and fabrication.
Although not publicly announced on social networks or the media, IU and her senior still maintain a good relationship. In May, Lee Hyori's husband, musician Lee Sang Soon, participated in the guitar cushion for IU's song "Last Scene".
After the movie When Life Is for You was released earlier this year, Lee Hyori mentioned the work in a conversation with veteran actress Kim Hye Ja and praised IUs acting.
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